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Italian Cuisine Expert and Food Blogger
Guido Pedrelli
Guido Pedrelli, the mastermind behind Nonna Box, has honed his culinary expertise for decades, inspired by family feasts in Emilia-Romagna. Mentored by his restaurateur nonna, he mastered Italian classics and furthered his skills with professional culinary studies in desserts and gelato making from Mec3. Today, he shares this rich legacy and authentic recipes through Nonna Box.
Crisp, buttery pizzelle (pronounced with the “ts” sound; singular “pizzella”) is a traditional Italian dessert with many variations. They can be thin and crisp, or thick and soft, and they can have an anise flavor, or more of a lemony zest. It all depends on your recipe (and taste preferences). If you are making pizzella for a heritage treat, you may have a family recipe to work off— if not, the internet is full of different versions to try!
Lovers of baked delights around the globe have come together to help the every day baker create traditional delights with a modern flare. One of these aids is the creation of Pizzelle Makers: handy kitchen tools that shape and cook your pizzelle all at once. Thanks to these inventions and the ease of spreading recipes through social media sites like Pinterest and Facebook, more and more products are becoming available for your kitchen.
When it comes to a growing market, you’re bound to find differences. This one is cast iron, that one is coated. These have temperature controls and handy indicator lights, while those offer a more traditional appeal. A myriad of options pepper different models— it can feel overwhelming when you first start searching.
So, how do you know which to choose? Dozens of pizzelle makers are available from various retailers, and they all have pros and cons. To help you make the best decision for your kitchen and baking style, we’ve compiled a list of the ten best pizzelle maker available on Amazon.
This little beast offers more than just a three-per pizzelle plate: it can also cook pancakes, crepes, and pizzelle. Indicator lights help you track the readiness of the iron heat and baking time, while dual controls let you adjust the temperature and timer to fit your project.
The baking plates are reversible. One side offers the pizzelle irons while the other handles the pancakes, crepes, and tortillas. These plates can be run through the dishwasher, making cleaning a breeze. It is a little slow when it comes to cooking pancakes, and only does one of the solid items at a time— though it cooks three pizzelle.
This press from Cuisinart is a beast. It’s super popular, with hardly any reviews lower than 4 stars— across multiple sites, no less! The WM-PZ10 bakes two four-inch pizzelle at a time. Indicators alert you when the irons are hot enough to cook and when the pizzelle have baked long enough.
The five-setting dial allows you to adjust the browning on the surface of the cookie; it’s basically a heat control knob. The one complaint that tended to crop up through reviews was that the machine could get hot to the touch, so it’s best to keep a potholder around for safe handling.
This non-stick double Pizzelle maker from Cucina boasts a 4.7/5 rating with over 700 reviews! Many of the five stars mentioned how easy it was to use and clean, noting that their pizzelle came out crisp and perfect. Note: the included recipes create thin and crispy pizzella. If you want thick and soft, you will need to experiment with other versions.
The downside to this maker is the poor latching mechanism. It consists of a large, thin metal U that swivels down and hooks around the bottom of the closing handle. The latch doesn’t always fit around the hook on the bottom handle well, and the metal can dig into your fingers.
CucinaPro’s second installment in our list creates miniature versions of the beloved treat. It’s great for cookie exchanges, bake sales, ice cream toppers, or small dessert tables when you need a small munchie. The non-stick surface helps with easy clean-up. You will need to experiment a bit with recipes to find one that works well in the smaller form.
The biggest complaint with this model tends to be the uneven surface of the finished pizzelle. Lovers of the product recommend using confectioner’s sugar if you need to cover the uneven look. It has a closing mechanism similar to the other Cucina model, but this model doesn’t have the stubbornness issue.
The Toscano Model from Chef’s choice takes a lot of the guesswork out of cooking the pizzelle. Average cooking time is 30 seconds, and an indicator light helps you time what is happening inside. Some users complain that the heat can’t be controlled, so you need to get the right recipe and right timing for the perfect waffle cookie.
This size also makes excellent waffle cones for the perfect summer treat. You will need to watch the plastic latch that keeps it closed; it has snapped on a few customers— though, only a few. Proper care and maintenance should eliminate any risk.
The Express Bake from Chef’s Choice can crank out three pizzelle in as little as 45 seconds. A handy dial on the side let’s you control the intensity of the heat, leading to golden brown or deeper brown pizzelle pending preference. Indicators on the top help you know when the irons are ready, and the included recipes, batter spoons, and cannoli dowel make the process a breeze.
This maker also has an overflow channel for batter, in case a bit much gets dolloped on for cooking. It does share the weakness with Chef Choice’s other included model, the Toscano: both are reported with weak plastic latches.
This little number makes 2 pizzelle at a time and comes with a locking mechanism for even browning. A five-setting slider allows you to control just how brown your pizzelle will be, and a handy indicator light helps you know when the irons are ready for cooking. The set temperature works well with many recipes, so it takes less trial and error to get the perfect pizzelle.
Something to watch, especially if you bake with children, is that the outside of the iron can get quite hot. Keep pot holders handy as a safety measure. Try not to force the latch, as the plastic can snap.
This little addition offers something not readily available for pizzelle makers: a cool-touch exterior. Great for kitchens with little cookers or the more accident-prone baking enthusiasts. The overflow trough and oversized griddle make cleanup a breeze, and a latching mechanism helps even out browning.
This model doesn’t offer temperature control, so it takes a little trial and error to find the perfect timing for your recipe. Be careful with the interior plates, as no indicator lights will let you know when the irons are hot.
For those who are looking for a more traditional approach, the aluminum cast Classic from Palmer is the way to go. It still uses electricity to heat up on its own, but it offers the original feel of cast metal— no flipping required.
The nice, deep lines make beautiful pizzelle and heats them perfectly even. There’s no school like old school, and this maker proves it.
The product is not coated with non-stick material, so you will need to prep the griddle to keep the batter from sticking.
This Electric Pizzelle iron from Palmer brings a touch of tradition to the modern era. It heats up quicker and does not require flipping, but it still needs that special touch. You must season the grills and develop the feel for timing your pizzelle readiness. Traditional cooks will appreciate the iron cast and even browning without the hassle of keeping up old kitchen equipment.
The long handles help protect you from the steam when cooking, but the iron can heat. Keep pot holders on hand as a safety precaution. The item is also extremely sturdy, so only let children operate under adult supervision.
Final Thoughts
There’s a perfect pizzelle maker out there for everyone— whether you’re looking for a traditional touch with Palmer, or the modern magic of Cuisinart. This list wades through a field of availabilities and helps bring up some of the best, but don’t feel like you must limit yourself. Research away until you find the best maker for your kitchen!
If you have a brand or model of pizzelle maker that you absolutely adore or if you’d like to share your favorite recipe (here’s our recipe for pizzelle), let us know! We’re always happy to hear from our readers (and try new sweets)!
